Improvement in trace-carriers



E. A. OOOPER. Trace-Carrier.

No. 214,280. Patented April 15,1879.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

EDWARD A. COOPER, OF LANOASTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACE-CARRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,280, dated April 15, 1879 application filed August 10, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. CooPEn, of Lancaster, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have made certain Improvenents in Trace-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for the purpose of hooking in and holding temporarily the ends of traces over the back of a horse, to prevent their dragging on the ground; and the invention consists in the arrangement and construction of the parts, as hereinafter explained and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 vis a plan of the trace-carrier, with the end of a trace dotted therein 5 Fig. 2, a side elevation, the dotted lines showing the spring-flap when thrown up.

A A represent the metallic frame, the ends Al A having the usual openings for the backstraps of the harness. B is a tongue or hook, connected to the sides of the frame A near the end A', as shown, and standing up therefrom and projectingtorward to about halfway across the middle, and in line with the main sides of the frame A A, and sufficiently above to give space to receive theitwo ends of the traces, one end only being shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. Near the opposite end, A", of the frame is a spring flap or clasp, C, hinged or swinging in the sides of the frame A A, as shown at e c. It is beveled off from the sides to the point of contact with the tongue-hook B, the end of which'it covers, preventing the hairs of the lorsels tail or the reins getting caught therein. It is kept in close contact with the tongue B by a spring, a, attached to or working on a short arm, b, forming part of the flap O. The spring, however, may be of any sort, and attached in any suitable manner to throw the clasp back when opened. The shape of this spring flap or clasp C leaves open spaces c c.

for the quick and ready entrance of the cockeye or metallic ends d of the traces. .A slight push against it with the trace end opens it suffioiently to catch the cockeye over the tongue B, the clasp closing at once of itself by means of the spring a.

This construction possesses a great advantage over other trace-carriers with which 'I am acquainted, as it requires only one hand-the one holding the trace-to open the spring and engage the end on the tongue, which is done by' merely pushing the end d ot' the trace against the under side of the clasp C, as before explained, the same pressure sliding it over the tongue-hook B.

To disengage the traces, it is again pulled or pushed (with one hand) against the clasp, and a slight pull upward relieves it, the clasp closing automatically.

With other construetions it usually takes both hands to open and engage or disengage the traces.

I claim- Trace carrier A, provided with fixed tongue B, arranged to sustain the cockeye, and hin ged overlappin g shield (l, havin g transverse cylindrical rod b and spring a, said' spring operating to force said shield down on said tongue.

In witness whereof l have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDVVARD A. OOOPER.

Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, T. H. PARsoNs. 

